• Training
• Research
• Organisation
• Protection
• Denunciation
• Judicial Redress
• Replacing Impunity with Justice

The campaign proposes to introduce training programs with a view to building a knowledge base in human rights as a resource for the most vulnerable groups in the university community.

SEMINARS FOR SINTRAUNICOL:

Given to those responsible for human rights; two people per sub-directive of the Union.

A COURSE PROGRAM IN HUMAN RIGHTS: 

A means of extending the knowledge of human rights by making use of existing resources, talents and expertise within universities.

The campaign proposes a research strategy involving universities´  existing networks of investigation for the diagnostic analysis of human rights abuses. Such analyses will serve the development of solutions originating from the academic community.

A DATABASE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES:

This will begin the compilation of currently disparate data with the aim of creating an exhaustive and integrated record available online to aid further research.

HUMAN RIGHTS SECRETARIAT:

Students, Teaching staff and Administrative staff elect two representatives per group to be responsible for human rights. As such each group has a secretary and deputy responsible for human rights in their region.

REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN UNIVERSITIES:

Universities in each region put forward three representatives to sit on a regional committee responsible for human rights. Within the committee representatives have equal voice and vote.

UNIVERSITY HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK:

This will consist of representatives from the various regional committees so as to form a national network to monitor, report on and campaign for human rights in universities across the country.

UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REGULATION AND RISK EVALUATION:

This will involve the creation of a special committee for the University sector of regulation and evaluation of risks. It will set out to realise the conclusions of the National and International Sochagota Conference (Colombia 2000). The existence of a permanent special committee is necessary as a forum in which the Ministers of Education, Work and the Interior (Home office), the SUE, ASPU, SINTRAUNICOL and the students can all participate.

The campaign proposes the development of a number of protective mechanisms to prevent future abuses of human rights against the University Community. These will consist of:

AUTONOMOUS PROTECTION:

To be developed by each organisation individually with their own resources. (In the assembly of delegates in Medellin, Nov. 2002, SINTRAUNICOL approved a one off contribution of $10,000 per employee to create a protection fund for its members).

UNIVERSITY SELF PROTECTION:

The universities should support a base financial contribution for the protection of their students and staff. This would have to be a commitment made at the Regional Committee level and it would be necessary to draw up some norms regarding its usage. 

STATE PROTECTION:

This would involve soliciting the support of the Ministry of the Interior for the creation of a Committee for the Regulation and Evaluation of Risk (CRER) for Universities. The difference between this request and the committee mentioned above would be important official state recognition and financial support.

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY: The creation of international mechanisms of protection for the University Community. These include the extension of measures already in place such as networks of denunciation and vigilance, a letter writing community, and international media contacts.

The campaign aims to develop an ongoing and effective strategy to report and condemn the systematic violation of human rights against the University Community.  The rational of denunciation to as wide a public as possible is that violations will be reduced as it becomes clear to the perpetrators that they will be exposed. As such denunciation is essential at the regional, national and international level.

INTERNATIONAL

To establish the largest number of international relations possible it is necessary to make contacts within both governmental and non-governmental human rights organisations. International visits of solidarity, and denunciation via the internet are crucial ways of achieving this and maintaining links.

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL

At the national and regional levels many of the networks are in place. Here the organisation structure mentioned above will help to denounce human rights abuses spreading information rapidly within the University Community and from there to wider society. Co-ordination and communication here is key to organise and publicise established methods such as meetings, conferences, galleries of memory for victims, demonstrations, consultations and public hearings and tribunals.

COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN

The Campaign “SO THAT THE UNIVERSITY CAN LIVE IN COLOMBIA”, by means of diverse media including video, posters, regular press bulletins, flyers and the website  aims to communicate to as wide an audience as possible so as to gain support.

JUDGEMENT OF CASES REGARDING THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:

Bringing cases before the National and International courts is a difficult but highly effective strategy not only of bringing perpetrators of human rights abuses to justice but (and sometimes more importantly) gaining national and international recognition of the situation which in turn can help to deter further acts. Furthermore, application of the due process of law in one case can bring to light more valuable evidence for further cases.

JUDICIAL VIGILATION:

The campaign should follow up all cases brought to the courts and vigilate over the processes, actors involved, the denunciations being made, the conduct of The State in the proceedings and over their own defenders of human rights in the courts.

REPRESENTATION OF THE VICTIMS:

The campaign is represented in court by a team of lawyers from the COLECTIVO DE ABOGADOS JOSE ALVEAR RESTREPO and also by a group legal advisors from SINTRAUNICOL.

The campaign seeks to develop mechanisms by which the victims of human rights abuses can gain reparations and by which the perpetrators can be brought to justice. We pledge to do everything necessary to achieve these objectives.

COMMISSION OF TRUTH JUSTICE AND REPARATION:

A commission of truth justice and reparation would help to co-ordinate research into what has happened with the specific aim of bringing those responsible to justice.  Its creation would also serve to demonstrate to current abusers of human rights that justice will ultimately be carried out. Although only at the very early planning stage we believe that investing time into its formation is valuable as history has shown such commissions can be successful.

UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL OF PUBLIC OPINION:

We plan to organise in the medium term an international tribunal of public opinion to make clear and obtain a ruling over what has taken place in Colombian Universities with regards the abuse of human rights.